As an extension of the Kehinde Wiley exhibition, organized at the Fondazione Giorgio Cini during the 59th Venice Biennale, the Musée d’Orsay is presenting until January 8 in its huge nave three monumental works by the artist: a painting entitled “ Woman Stung By A Snake (Mamadou Gueye) » and two recently made sculptures « An Archeology of Silence ” and ” The Young Tarantine (Mamadou Gueye) “.
What place for the black man and woman in the history of art? If we refer to classical painting, it is reduced to the bare minimum, apart from slaves and servants.
For almost 20 years, Kehinde Wiley set out to fill in the gaps and glorify black bodies through realistic painting and sculpture, giving them the monumental luster that has hitherto been largely denied them. Drawing inspiration from classic works, but also from the personal accounts of anonymous people, the African-American artist is one of the stars of the 59e Venice Biennale which continues until November 27.
Kehinde Wiley is stopping off today in Paris, Orsay Museum which exhibits three of his works until January 8. That’s where we went to interview him this morning.